Imperial Cultivation Chapter 1368 - 1364: Hidden Move

The emaciated elder’s gaze swept across the assembled individuals before settling on Zhou Tianji.

Zhou Tianji’s physique stiffened involuntarily.

Despite both being at the Ninth Transition Venerable stage, a significant chasm in power separated them.

In a resonant tone, the gaunt elder inquired, "Tianji, your acumen and thoroughness are well-known. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

"Second Elder, I shall faithfully adhere to the directives of the Sect Hierarch and the esteemed Elders."

"At this juncture, refrain from holding back your insights. You have progressed this far; your understanding of him surpasses ours. Please, share your perspective!"

"Yes, Your Highness… while my desire to eliminate Zhu Lingyun is strong, certain reservations plague my mind."

"Concerns regarding the Divine Venerable, perhaps?"

"Ah, Tianji, indeed the Divine Venerable wields formidable power, but our own strength is not insignificant—you need not fret excessively."

The stout elder made a dismissive gesture with his hand.

"Understood, Third Elder." Zhou Tianji offered a slight bow, cupping his fists.

The slender elder’s brow furrowed. "Junior Brother, kindly allow him to elaborate!"

Addressing Zhou Tianji gently, he continued, "Tianji, please proceed."

The burly elder compressed his lips, sensing an unsettling aura pervading the Sect, reacting with apprehension and changing his countenance at the mere mention of the Divine Venerable.

Even a steadfast mind could falter when the Divine Venerable was invoked.

Driven by an intense aspiration to attain the Divine Venerable’s echelon, they had mythologized this status, envisioning an omnipotent deity.

Yet, a Divine Venerable remained merely a step beyond a Venerable—not a celestial being.

A Divine Venerable was susceptible to deception and capable of error; their knowledge and might were not absolute.

Observe their palpable fear!

Under the reassuring and encouraging look of the gaunt elder, Zhou Tianji resumed, "Based on the information I've gathered, the Divine Venerable operates without constraint, their actions dictating life and death—even they might not fully comprehend their own future deeds."

The gaunt elder inclined his head in agreement. "Indeed, such is the prevailing understanding."

A middle-aged participant interjected with a chuckle, "To achieve the Divine Venerable state is to shatter all bonds, to act with absolute freedom. Imagine the exhilaration!"

Another man of middle years chimed in with a laugh, "Should I attain Divine Venerable status, I would unleash my spirit, traveling unbound and untroubled!"

"Were I to reach the Divine Venerable pinnacle, no earthly afflictions would disturb my heart—a truly blissful existence!"

...

The gaunt elder raised a hand, commanding, "Enough, silence—everyone, quiet! Tianji, continue your exposition."

Zhou Tianji’s voice bore a grave solemnity. "My paramount apprehension is that the Divine Venerable’s response may deviate from our projections. Should Zhu Lingyun perish, the Divine Venerable might retaliate, annihilating both our Sect and the Green Bamboo Sect."

The grand hall sank into an immediate, profound silence, so quiet one could hear a needle drop.

The notion was difficult to accept, yet the revelation struck them with the force of an icy shock.

A chill permeated the air.

The gaunt elder mused, "Hmm, if your concern holds true, then Zhu Lingyun must remain beyond our reach?"

Zhou Tianji affirmed, "His elimination is imperative, but certain critical details must be ascertained beforehand."

"And what precisely are these details?" The robust elder scoffed, "A multitude of complexities, perhaps? Or would a swift, decisive strike suffice!"

Zhou Tianji turned his gaze to the gaunt elder, stating with utmost seriousness, "Firstly, we must ascertain his true identity, verifying if 'Zhu Lingyun' is indeed his given name."

A wave of murmurs swept through the assembly.

"His very name might be a fabrication?"

"Precisely. He initially claimed lineage from Biyuan Heaven, then shifted to You Meng Heaven. If such fundamental deceptions are possible, why not his designation?"

"His affiliation with a Sect might also be fictitious—perhaps not from Wanxiang Cliff at all!"

"Iniquitous! This scoundrel has not uttered a single honest word—he warrants death!"

Zhou Tianji concurred, "Master Cheng’s observation is astute; his Sect affiliation may indeed be spurious!"

The burly elder chuckled derisively. "Hark, Tianji, you hesitate to take his life, do you not? Are we to set him free simply because he invokes the backing of a Divine Venerable? Preposterous!"

"Third Elder, discerning his true nature renders such considerations moot—if his claims are verifiable, swift execution is warranted, not merely for one Venerable, but for ten. However, striking prematurely without confirming the facts—should his assertions prove genuine, not mere bravado, and draw the Divine Venerable’s ire—would invite irreparable regret. Ultimately, avoiding minor losses to prevent a catastrophic outcome is the wiser course."

The corpulent elder's brow furrowed, and he fell silent.

Zhou Tianji’s reasoning resonated with him; it was indeed imprudent to risk substantial gains for minor advantages.

Nevertheless, a deep-seated indignation lingered, fueling an even stronger yearning for the Divine Venerable’s might.

The gaunt elder sighed, "Tianji, your counsel is sound, but how shall we penetrate the veil of his truth and falsehoods? Shall we journey to Biyuan Heaven?"

"A visit to Biyuan Heaven is essential." Zhou Tianji affirmed with a nod.

The stout elder pondered aloud, "Even within Biyuan Heaven, uncovering the truth about this individual will prove daunting, no?"

"I believe Biyuan Heaven would not harbor many experts at the Ninth Transition Venerable stage. Sketching his likeness and making inquiries should suffice."

"But what if he truly originates from You Meng Heaven?"

"If the inhabitants of Biyuan Heaven do not recognize him, then it is highly probable he hails from You Meng Heaven."

"Tianji, what course of action shall we take if both heavens he mentioned prove to be fabrications? Neither Biyuan nor You Meng Heaven—how then shall we pursue this investigation?"

Zhou Tianji offered a wry smile, "Master Cheng, should such be the case, we are indeed left without recourse."

A middle-aged individual scoffed, "In my estimation, we ought to simply subdue him, seal his vital acupoints, employ torture, and extract the truth—why bother with such convoluted investigations?"

Zhou Tianji countered with a shake of his head, "Interrogation proves futile—how can we possibly discern verity from fabrication?"

"Blast it all, he has brought us to an impasse!"

Frustration and anger were evident on everyone's faces.

They found themselves ensnared in an unprecedented predicament, utterly confounded.

Torn between a desire for retribution and the grip of gnawing apprehension.

Yet, they recognized that matters pertaining to Biyuan Heaven could not be simply dismissed.

The gaunt elder declared with profound gravity, "Then we shall initiate our investigation within Biyuan Heaven—there, we should undoubtedly unearth the truth."

"Second Brother, we must dispatch a substantial contingent of disciples," the burly elder advised. "A meager force would undoubtedly prolong the process."

"Hmm," the gaunt elder concurred, nodding. "We depart today—the sooner, the better."

"Understood." Zhou Tianji cupped his fists in acknowledgment.

...

Zhu Lingyun, having overheard this exchange, allowed a subtle smile to grace his lips.

Continuing his journey alongside Mo Huaiyuan, he advanced deeper into the environs.

They traversed the heart of the valley, encountering a majestic central hall that evoked the grandeur of a blossoming flower.

As they drew nearer, the exquisite craftsmanship of this edifice became increasingly apparent.

It was a palace meticulously sculpted from White Jade.

At the very core of the floral design, where a flower's heart would be, stood the grand hall, embraced by elongated, curving palaces.

These surrounding structures were capacious, ensuring ample space within their confines.

A layered arrangement of these elongated palaces encircled the central domicile, which was ingeniously illuminated.

This very illumination was a testament to its exceptional design.

Before the palace complex lay an expansive plaza adorned with nine petal-shaped platforms, similarly fashioned from White Jade.

Their material harmonized perfectly with that of the palace, fostering a sense of cohesive splendor.

The ancient tree had revealed that these platforms served as the conduits for entry and exit into Biyuan Heaven.

Seizing the opportune moment, Zhu Lingyun focused his intent and employed his Insight upon one of the platforms.

Through the application of Insight, he discerned intricate, arcane patterns lying beneath the platforms and etched upon the palace walls.

He meticulously reconstructed these patterns within his mind, coalescing them into the semblance of nine distinct blossoms.

Each of these nine flowers possessed a unique style and placement, intricately linked to specific celestial alignments.

They acted as channels, drawing a profound, enigmatic power from beyond the Void, thereby facilitating interdimensional travel.

"Mr. Zhu?" Mo Huaiyuan observed Zhu Lingyun's faltering pace and then chuckled encouragingly, "We are but a short distance away; the guest quarters are nearly within reach."

He deliberately steered Zhu Lingyun away from the central hall, guiding him clear of the plaza and maintaining a considerable distance from the nine platforms.

His intention was to prevent Zhu Lingyun from gaining further insight.

"Very well, let us proceed onward," Zhu Lingyun responded with a smile.

The potent Qi from his Lao Gong Acupoint flowed outward, channeling into the Spring Acupoint. From there, it merged with the Earth Power, silently permeating the very ground beneath them.

The Earth Power enveloped the essence completely, becoming utterly indistinguishable and undetectable.

Such was the inherent subtlety of Earth Power—born from the Earth, it found its perfect concealment within it.

He harbored a firm conviction that even expert Venerables would remain oblivious to any anomaly. Whether Spirit Venerables could detect it, however, remained uncertain.

To this day, he had not yet encountered a Spirit Venerable directly, leaving their true capabilities a mystery.